ha's Betrayal Rise Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 4 The Rogue King Finished The forest presses in close at night , its branches clawing at the moon . I move carefully , the damp earth soft beneath my boots , my breath ghosting in the chill air . Every step feels like betrayal , yet every step also feels like survival . Chapter 3 A Kingdom Of Exiles 110 Finished The next day , the morning sun streams through tall windows , gilding the long oak dining table in gold . The scent of roasted meat mixes with buttered bread . Although the air is warm , I still feel cold as ice on the inside . My chair is at the farthest end of the table . I pause when I see it . Yesterday , my seat was beside Kade's . Today , it is nearly ten places down . Izel sits where I once belonged , her white dress brushing against his arm . She laughs lightly as she fills Finn's cup with juice , then cuts Ivy's bread into tiny pieces . She does it smoothly , as if she has always been the one doing that . A servant gestures to my chair . " Here , Luna Freya , " she says , but the title comes to her lips with hesitation . I cross the room , feet stomping , the eyes of every servant and guard following me , and sit at the end . Finn looks down the table , frowning . " Mama ? Why are you sitting so far ? " Izel strokes his hair . " Don't worry , darling . Mama Freya just likes her space ." Angry heat rises to my face . My space ? My exile , she means . " Eat , " Kade orders , hushing everyone with his authoritative voice . I lower my gaze to the plate set before me . Eggs , bread , and a slice of meat . Normal . Yet I know it could be poisoned - the food was waiting before I sat . I don't drink the honeyed ale and only nibble at the food . I try not to look at them , but I do . Izel leaning in close . Kade listening with an amused smile . My children tucked beneath her wings . My throat thickens at the sight , tears pricking the corners of my eyes . The sound of wings flapping against stone jars the silence . A raven drops through the open window , black feathers scattering across the table . Gasps rise as it lands near Kade's plate , claws tapping against the wood . " From the High Council , " the birdmaster mutters upon recognising the seal and steps forward to unfasten the scroll from its leg . He hands it to Kade . The Alpha breaks the seal , his eyes scanning quickly . The room holds its breath , waiting . Finally , he clears his throat . " A Conclave has been called . Thirty days from now . At the Blood- Moon . " 1/3 21:31 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter A Kingdom Of Exiles Finished Whispers break out . A Conclave is no small matter. Every Alpha in the region is summoned . Every Luna , too - though Kade doesn't look at me once when he says it . " What for , Alpha ? " Beta Jax asks . " Judgment . " Kade answers shortly . His gaze flickers over the table , settling on no one . " They will weigh matters of blood and leadership ." Izel's lips curve faintly , like she knows something the rest of us don't . Judgment . The word scrapes across my bones . Thirty days . The same number Nyx gave me . " Eat , " Kade repeats , ending the conversation . I pretend to swallow another bite . *** When I meet Brin in the glass garden later , he has a plate of food ready for me . " I saw how little you ate at breakfast , Luna Freya , " he says . " I prepared this myself . If you trust me , you should eat it to keep your strength . " Jax's words return to me : Some want you gone quietly . Some not so quietly . Brin notices my hesitation and whispers , " You know you can trust me , Luna Freya ." I nod and take the plate from him . I eat everything , but there's no appetite , nor does the food taste good . He takes the empty plate from me and then hands me a bluish - gray bowl filled with a purple concoction . " It's the antidote . " He pauses , then assures me , " No one knows about this except you and me . " The words give me some relief , but I still don't know what to do or whom to trust . All I know is that I have twenty - nine days left before I have to leave this place . *** Later , I step out to the balcony alone . I'm thankful I still have my chamber to myself , but I mustn't count on it . I could be thrown out any day if Izel so much as whispers the word . The afternoon air is harsh , cutting through the fog in my head . Below , the training yard rings with the sound of swords clashing , shouts carrying on the wind . Something brushes against my sleeve . I look down . A raven perches on the railing , feathers gleaming dark as night . Its eyes fix on me , unblinking . When did it come here ? How did I not hear it ? A scrap of parchment is tied to its leg . I untie it , hands trembling , and unfold the note . Only 2/3 21:31 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter A Kingdom Of Exiles four words , written in quick , sharp strokes : Nightfell can free you . ( 15 Finished The raven caws once , then takes off , its wings beating strong against the afternoon sky . I stand there , clutching the note . My heart pounds so loud it drowns out the world . Nightfell . I know that name . Every child does . It is whispered like a curse , like a story told to keep pups in their beds . Nightfell is a rival pack , but it is almost somewhat of a kingdom now . Exiles and rogues gather there , bound not by honor but by blood debts and hatred for the Alphas who cast them out . They live in the mountains where the sun hides half the year . Where the rivers run black with ash . It is said Nightfell wolves drink wolfsbane to harden themselves against pain . That they scar their own flesh to honor the darkness . That their Alpha crowns himself not with silver , but with bone . No Luna ever goes there and returns . Those who flee into Nightfell are as good as dead . Or worse . Nyx stirs in my chest , her voice a low growl . ' Listen . This is the way ?' I grip the railing so hard my knuckles threaten to split . My wolf speaks of freedom , but all I hear is ruin . Yet ruin is better than this slow death . Rowan's face burns in my mind . I know from the rumours that he has recently been crowned the Alpha of Nightfell . Rowan was my oldest friend . The boy who once told me he loved me , before duty chained me to Kade because I was promised from birth . He knew it , but he said he would always love me , and for that reason , Kade's father cast him out of the pack . And then he'd found home in the dangers of Nightfell . I don't even remember what he used to look like . I only have happy memories of him , of us lying in the grass , laughing . Of running through the woods in our wolf forms , chasing prey . And now his hand reaches for me again , across the mountains , across the years , Thirty days . Now twenty - nine . And for the first time in years , hope claws its way back into me - not bright or clean , but jagged and dangerous . Hope shaped like Nightfell . Send Gifts " 3/3 No one will know that I'm gone , and I'm sure no one will care . Nyx stirs faintly in me , restless , urging me on . ' He's right there , ' she says . ' Keep going .' The border clearing waits , mist curling silver around the stones . And he's already there . Rowan . He's taller than the boy I remember , broad - shouldered . His hair falls in a shaggy cut , untamed , brushing his jaw and neck . His eyes - once a soft green now bear a sharp edge . They catch the light like wet moss after rain . The years have carved lines into him , but the way he looks at me is the same . With devotion and care . As if no time has passed . " You came ," he says . " I had no choice , " I say , trying not to sound too desperate . His gaze lingers on me too long , like he's reliving all our memories . " You reek of it , " he finally claims . " Of what ? " " Wolfsbane . " He steps closer . " That's why your wolf has gone quiet . That's why you're fading ." I swallow hard . " How do you know all that ? " His lips curve into a sad smile . " Do you think his father's sentence could sever what ties us ? That the border could stop my heart from following yours ? " He closes the distance between us and cups my face in his hands . I don't push him away . " The years apart have not dulled what I feel for you , Freya ." I can't bear to look at his face , to see the intensity in those eyes . " You must not say such things , Rowan . I'm married to Kade ." " And he has crowned his mistress the lady of the house , " he points out bitterly . " How do you- " I begin , then cut myself off . News carries over kingdoms , and the borderlands aren't so far away . Of course , he knows what has been happening . 1/4 21:31 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter & The Roque King Finished His thumb brushes my cheek softly . " If he does not honour his marriage vows , why do you ? " I shake my head , then take his hands and push them down from my face before stepping back . " I don't know what to do . You're right , Rowan . Someone has been slowly poisoning me . I didn't want to believe it . Even when the healer from the pack showed me proof ." " You should have . " Rowan's jaw flexes . " The hand behind it is inside your house . Too close for comfort . It has to be . " I glance at him . " You think it's Izel . " " I know it's Izel ." His voice is certain . " I have been ... looking and found out that ... she carries witch blood . It's faint , buried , but strong enough to bend loyalty , to twist men's will . You understand that about witch powers , right ? Your guards , your servants - why do you think they obey her so easily ? Why Kade looks at her and forgets you ? " My lips quiver , but it still does not make full sense . " Witch blood ? " " Yes . " His eyes burn , reflecting the moon . " She's not just sly . She's dangerous . Izel doesn't just want your place , Freya . She wants your end . " I flinch at the truth in his tone . Why ? I wonder . She already has enough power now that she's lady of the house . My children call her mama . What does she hope to achieve by killing me ? Does she think I could sway Kade and make him love me again ? I look back at Rowan and realise it doesn't matter anymore . I feel the need to ask , so I ask the question . " And what do you want ? " His expression softens , only for a breath . " To see you alive . " The silence that follows is thick , bittersweet , and painful . I remember him as a boy , laughing as we raced through the fields , hair wild in the wind , his voice calling me back when I strayed too far . He told me once , in a whisper only I could hear , that he would always love me . That promise cost him everything . Now he stands here , the Rogue King of Nightfell . " I can help you ," Rowan says . " Nightfell knows ways to fight poison . I can give you something to keep your wolf awake . But you'll need more than that . You'll need to decide who you are . " I almost laugh , bitter . " Who I am ? I am nothing in that house anymore . Not to Kade . Not to anyone ." He steps closer , close enough that I see the scar trailing along his jaw , lit by moonlight . His voice drops low . " Not true ." 2/4 21:31 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 4 The Rogue King : " What do you mean ? " I ask , and my gaze falls to his lips as I hold my breath . 016 Finished He surprises me by reaching for my neck , and then he pulls down the robe I'm wearing before tugging down the sleeve of my dress , exposing my shoulder blade . I gasp at the action , feeling so afraid that tears fill my eyes until he pulls out something shiny and reflective . A piece of mirror . He holds it and says , " Look ." He holds my neck with his other hand , rough calluses against my skin . Then his hand moves from my neck before his thumb brushes the centre of my scapula . In the mirror , I see a faint glow , something shaped like a silvered crescent etched under my skin . " What is that ? " Rowan's voice is filled with awe . " Do you see it ? " " It's just a scar ." " No. " His finger brushes once again over the shape , touch featherlight . " It's a sigil . The mark of a High Luna . " The words hollow me out . " There hasn't been a High Luna anywhere on the continent for the last three centuries . " " But we have one now . " His green eyes blaze . " You bear the proof . Which means your path is larger than Kade's house . Larger than his crown . You were never meant to rot in his shadow . You're meant for more . " The wind rushes through the trees , carrying ash and pine . " How long have you known ? Why tell me now ? " He sighs . " I don't know why I waited so long , but I have known it for a while .... Nightfell holds a lot of truths , a lot of secrets . There are many reasons why wolves are cast out , Freya . I saw the mark on you once when we were young . We were bathing in a stream . And then I saw it again at the library after being banished . I asked some elders about it , and then I knew what it meant . " " High Luna ," I whisper , shaking my head . " Why me ? " Rowan doesn't look away . " Only the Moon Goddess knows why . " My knees nearly give at his words . Rowan steps back into the mist , shoulders squared . " Think on it , Freya . You have twenty - nine days . Then the Blood - Moon decides everything ." " Rowan- " I call , though I don't know what I mean to say . But he's already gone , his shadow swallowed by the forest . 314 21:31 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 4 The Roque King ( 16 Finished I stand there trembling , clutching my chest , feeling the burn of the mark on my back . High Luna . The words echo through me , more dangerous than poison , more impossible than freedom . Send Gifts 10